The Admirable Crichton deals with a single social problem: the natural selection of leaders in any society. Women are viewed as neither inferior nor superior to men. Lady Mary is easily the brightest, most competent woman in the play; and although her hunting ability surpasses that of Crichton, she does not quite match his talents generally.

Tweeny, on the other hand, although illiterate, is easily a match for the men who pursue her; she quickly sees through Ernest and refuses his marriage proposal.

The Admirable Crichton criticizes a society where leaders are selected on the basis of heredity rather than on the basis of ability. Only when the characters are shipwrecked and social barriers stripped down is the natural leader of the group, Crichton, allowed to fully use his talents to benefit the group as a whole.